The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-05
A DRUNKEN CAPTAIN.
Loss of the Vernon Principally Due to Her
Commanders Fondness for Whisky.

CHICAGO. Nov. 4-Edgar A Hall, br other Of
the second engineer of the Vernon. stated yester
day that the last time his brother was in Chicago
he told him that Captain Thorp master of the
Vernon had attack of delirium tremens
while on top of the pIlot-house Mr. Hall was
formerly connected with the Northern Michigan
line, and was clerk of the propeller Champlain
until short time before she burned, when he
resigned to accept position as book-keeper
with Hanchett Brothers. No. 20 Lasalle street.
He also said that it ought to have been well
known to the other officers of the line that
Captain Thorp was a hard drinker and that he
had often left port while drunk. MIR. Hall gave
the name of a prominent wholesale merchant
who recently made trip the Vernon, who
had told him that Captain Thorp was drunk dur
ing the entire time he remained the
boat The brother of Mrs. NJ. E.
Vanamburg called at the Tribune Office
last night and said that her sister arrived
at Chicago on the Vernon, Sept. 3.
accompanied by Miss Addie Mickey, of Water
loo n. Y. The steamer was three days longer
than usual in making the trip from Cheboygan,
and both ladies told him that the captain was
drunk all the time. Axel Stone. the only sur
vivor of the disaster, when asked IL he ever saw
Captain Thorp drunk, replied: 1.-THE captain
was drunk most of the time and he very
drunk when we left Cheboyeau last week.
second mate said to him: "Sober up. you
drunken beast, and take care of this boat and
the people" The captain told him to go to hell
was in the cabin at the time, and heard every
word that was said. Friday night, which was
the night that the steamer was lost, the captain
drunk as / ever him, and he kept
taking a drink every little while from a bottle
that ne carried in his coat pocket. / guess that
IS why the first mate staid on deck all Of the
time. He knew that the captain was so drunk
that he didn't hardly know what he about,
and was probably afraid the captain would do
something foolish. If the captain had been
sober, don't believe the vessel would have
been lost, for any sober man would have turned
back when he saw how badly she acted in the
big sea.
The ordinary gsecond mate of a passenger
steamer would hardly dare to such language
to the master as that Stone ascribes to Captain
Higgins but the latter not an ordinary
second mate. Up to a short time ago he was in
command of the steamer Leland, and lost his
position when the steamer changed ownership.
1t Is difficult to obtain a command in the middle
of the season. and, rather than remain idle, he
accepted the first berth that offered him. In
every sense ne was careful aud skilful navi.
gator. and if he had been in command Of the
Vernon that fatal night she might now be afioat.
The same can be said Of Captain Sullivan, the
first mate. whe had for many years commanded
some of the finest sailing vessels on the lakes.
The last time the Vernon in Chicago, Capt.
Sullivan, speaking of the seaworthiness of the
steamer, remarked that she all right if
properly loaded. but added that she was being
loaded deeper than she ought to be.